Composing / Arranging / Songwriting

In this final part of the series, we show how well-chosen instrument combinations and effects will bring your orchestral arrangements to life.

A glorious suite of extras bolsters the core orchestral sound.

Symphonic percussion joins forces with ethnic drums in the modern Hybrid Orchestra.

Brass and horns ignite the fire at the heart of the orchestra.

Scoring a huge ad campaign in four days is no mean feat, especially when you have to record live musicians.

Creative woodwind writing is the orchestral arranger’s secret weapon.

This often-overlooked orchestral family holds the key to a wide range of exciting tonal colours.

Familiarity with a few common articulations is the key to successful MIDI string arranging.

Adding strings to an arrangement is a great way to inject motion into your music.

Blockbuster video game Horizon Zero Dawn took six years to make, and required its three composers to invent an entirely new sound world.

Our major new series explains how to harness the power of today’s virtual orchestral instruments.

Cult TV series Stranger Things has become essential viewing — and essential listening. We talk to the previously unknown composers behind its hit soundtrack.

Just what should you expect when engaging a professional arranger or orchestrator to work on your own production? We find out from some of the best in the business...

We conclude our series with an overview of arrangement techniques and a peep into the world of big-band brass.

A simple, catchy tune with a funky rhythm may be all you need to create a highly commercial horn hook — but harmony is also an essential ingredient in brass arrangements.

The second in our four-part series deconstructs funk licks, discusses the implications of using live players and explains how to get more expression and feel into your sampled brass arrangements.